Christmastime!

We had a very eventful Christmas season! Noah and I love Christmastime and it was so fun to share it with Keira this year because, as she is getting older, she is able to understand and participate in a lot more.

Right after Thanksgiving was over, so many people in our neighborhood put up lights. Every night after dinner, we had fun taking Jack on a walk and seeing all the lights around our neighborhood!

During the first weekend in December, Balboa Park hosts a huge Christmas event called December Nights (apparently some 300,000 people attend this event!). Although parking is always a nightmare, we've managed to go the last 2 years and it has been a fun intro to the Christmas season.

Still daylight out...hey, Santa, got any presents for me in there?

In Spanish Village, so many lights everywhere!

Before...

After!

Thank you to Nana and Briana for the awesome Advent calendars! And also thanks to Janine for the "one book per night" idea. Starting on Dec 1st and every night thereafter leading up to Christmas, Keira got to open one Christmas book and place one figurine from her Advent calendars. She loved this new tradition and it was awesome to have so many opportunities to talk to her about the story of Jesus' birth.

We always get our Christmas tree at a place where you can cut down your own. Here we are about to find the perfect tree.

Peek-a-boo!

Here's the winner!

Let's cut it down, Daddy!

Homeward bound!

Daddy helping Keira place her special "first Christmas" ornament

Daddy & daughter

The finished product

Our little family Christmas exchange.

Unfortunately, Keira had to get to bed before she could participate in the exchange with us.

The next morning, we left for our week-long trip to visit our families. We stayed overnight at my aunt Sue's house and in the morning, Keira got to start her first round of present opening!

Ooh, pretty dress!

After a quick visit at my cousin's house (unfortunately, no pictures of that stop), it was on to Grammy's house! Keira's loves Grammy's dog, Sister!

And more presents!

In case you didn't know, we're Chargers fans around here!

My mom provided us a really nice lunch and Keira got to help prepare the mashed potatoes!

Add a little salt...

Okay, now mix!

Mom, can't you see I'm working here?!

No more pictures, please!

Lounging and reading her new book after our bellies were full

That afternoon, we got in the car again and drove up to Nana's house!

We made it just in time for Christmas Eve dinner and a special church service.

On Christmas morning, we woke up and came downstairs and saw that our stockings were full!

Hmmm...what else is in there?

After our traditional breakfast of egg casserole and pecan rolls, we headed off to church. After lunch, the adults got to open presents while Keira took her nap.

Even the dogs got presents!

After Keira's nap, she woke up to a house full of people and a yummy Christmas dinner. When most of the guests had gone home, it was time for Keira to open her presents (finally)!

Reading her last Christmas book to cap off the Christmas countdown!

I love presents!

(She actually said this phrase earlier in the morning when we were opening stockings!)

Thank you, Uncle

Wow, Christmas is exhausting!

It's even more exhausting when you get dressed up like an ewok against your will.

Playing with her new puzzle!

Thanks, Nana!

The next night we had a fun dinner and game night with some longtime family friends!

Noah and Ben have grown up together since they were babies!

The proud Grandmas

Silly girls

Keira loved playing the piano with her aunt Laura!

She specifically requested many songs and asked (or basically demanded!) that Laura "sing them with your mouth"

On our last day in Davis, we went to a place called Fairy Tale Town in Sacramento.

Noah and his family had grown up going there and it was fun to share it with Keira. She loved all the slides and climbing and running around. Maybe in a year or two she'll be able to appreciate all the nursery rhyme themes too!

Sitting at Arthur's Round Table with Aunt Laura

In the alphabet garden: K for Keira!

Poor Uncle was forced into sitting on a toadstool with us girls!

Follow the yellow brick road!

Pretending to be Cinderella

There were so many slides!

Nana got in on the fun too!

Did I mention there were a lot of slides?!

We had a wonderful Christmas season with our families and friends!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:5-7